Shoes



7 June 18, 1957 M. ZUCKERMAN H AL SHOES Filed July 5 1, 1956 IN VEN TORSmakwnv zucxznmw By LOUIS A. LONGOBR'RDI ATTORNEY United States PatentSHOES Application July 31, 1956, Serial No. 601,311

1 Claim. or. 36-42) Generically, the invention relates to ladiesfootwear and specifically it comprehends improvements in shoes havingremovable or interchangeable heels, as for example French heels.

Style is the most important factor in ladies apparel and this isespecially the case in footwear, one of the largest segments of thisvast industry. A highly desirable attribute of a stylish pair of womensshoes is their adaptability to blend with other parts of the apparel,viz: the dress, gloves and hat.

The instant invention comprehends improvements in the replaceable heelstructure invented by Andre Perugi'a, as disclosed in a patentapplication No. 601,312 being filed concurrently herewith, and oneobject of the present invention is a shoe having a replaceable heelwhich may be positively locked in position on the shoe, absolutelysecure against displacement, on untoward removal. Another object is theprovision of a replaceable heel structure part of which is virtually anextension of the present shoe shank stiffener employed in themanufacture of ladies footwear.

Another and prime object is a ladys shoe on which the heel may beexpeditiously changed to a different colored or decorated heel withoutundue exertion but which, when the heel has been changed and locked inposition, presents the appearance of a new shoe with no visible showingof the mounting structure.

These and other objects will be manifest after a perusal of thespecification, drawings and claim.

Briefly described, the invention consists in the incorporation in theshoe shank stiffener of an enlarged plate extension which is afiixed tothe heel seat portion of the shoe, and beneath this is integrallymounted a support having a dovetail groove in its underside and a stoppin mounted forwardly of one end of the groove. The support, extensionand insole of the shoe are cylindrically and vertically bored, whileabove the opening of this bore is provided a lift tab affording readyaccess to the bore. The replaceable or interchangeable heels arelongitudinally channelled at the heel seat portion and in the channel orrecess is mounted a tenon also vertically bored, said tenon adapted tobe slidably received in the dovetail groove of the support and securelylocked against displacement by a pin inserted into the bore from theopening beneath the lift tab. Various refinements of the invention arecontemplated which will be disclosed herein.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1. A perspective view of the shoe with the heel fully seated.

Fig. 2. Perspective view of the shoe with heel separated therefrom.

Fig. 3. Top plan view of shoe.

Fig. 4. Cross-section taken along lines 4 -4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5. Cross-section taken along lines 55 of Fig. 3.

In the practice of the invention there is provided a ladys shoeindicated generally at 5 having conventional upper 6, the inner marginaledges 7 of which may be 2,795,867 Patented June 18, 1957 afiixed toinner sole 9 as by nails 8. Between the inner sole 9 and outer sole 17there is provided a shank stiffener 10 having curved lower portion 11shown in Fig. 2 as being secured in conventional fashion to between theshank portion of the inner sole 9, filler strips 34 and outer sole 20,said stiffener having a raised or rib portion 12. The upper or rear endpart of shank stiffener 11 forms what may be described as a palm 13having a pair of side portions 14 and a rear portion 15, afiixed to theunder side of the heel seat portion of shoe 5 as by fasteners 16.Integral with and depending from palm 13 is a support 17 having dovetailgroove 18, and in adjacent relationship to the inner end of groove 18 ismounted stop pin 19. The outer sole 20 and filler strips 34 are cut offto form an end 21, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The removable heel 22 has concaved heel seat rim 23 and the side andrear portions of the heel and rim 23 are covered with material which maybe the same as the upper 6, or any other desired material contrastingwith the upper. The medial heel seat portion of heel 22 islongitudinally recessed as at 32, in the confines of which is rigidlymounted tongue 27 as by screws 28. The sides of said tongue, it will benoted, are spaced equi-distantly from the sides of recess 32 to permitsupport 17 to be received within the recess 32 as tongue 27 is slidablyengaged by dovetail groove 18 when heel 22 is placed on the shoe insliding engagement therewith. Breast 25 of heel 22 is covered with acontinuation of outer sole 20, and inner vertical wall 24 of the heelabuts inner end of outer sole 21 when the heel is mounted on the shoe.

The inner sole 9, palm 13 and shank stiffener 10, support 17 and tongue27 are vertically bored to form a mating orifice 31 when the heel isfully seated, as depicted in Fig. 1, with sock, lining 29 having lifttab 30 affording access to the orifice 31 to permit the pin 33 to beplaced in orifice 31 to hold the heel 22 securely positioned on the shoeagainst untoward displacement or movement of any kind.

The heel 22 when in seated position fits the shoe to a nicety with theconcaved heel seat rim 23 snugly embracing the heel seat portion of theinner sole, and inner vertical wall 24 of heel 22 abutting inner end 21of outer sole 20. The shoe presents no visible structure different fromconventional shoes, the means for mounting the interchangeable heelsbeing completely within the shoe.

The stop pin 19 acts as a firm stop for the inner end of tongue 27whenthe heel 22 is slid in place on the shoe, in addition to the stopcreated by the end 21 of outer sole 20.

When the description French heel is used with reference to the heelshown in the patent, it is not intended to be limitative, as it iscontemplated that any type of heel for a ladys shoe may be employed, orfor that matter, it is within the inventive concept that the inventionmight be adapted for mens footwear.

In addition, while the appellations tongue and support having a dovetailgroove are given to certain structure, mortice and tenon, key and keywayand other descriptive words might be employed which are equallyapplicable.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of construction hereindisclosed, but claim all variations thereof.

We claim:

A heel assembly for footwear including a heel having a. concaved upperrim and a longitudinal recess below said rim, an apertured key mountedin said recess, a sole structure including at least an inner sole, anouter sole and a sock lining, an inflexible shank stiffener interposedbetween the inner sole and outer sole having an enlarged extensionhaving side and rear portions, said extension afii'xed to the heelsection of the shoe and forming a platelike palm, an apertured keywaymating said key depending from said palm between said side and rearportions and having a stop adjacent the inner end of the keyway, thesock lining having a lift tab, afiording access to the 5 aperturedkeyway, an aperture in the inner sole mating the aperture in the keywayand a pin insertable into the apertured key and keyway beneath the lifttab when the heel is in seated position on the shoe, to hold the heellocked to the shoe whereby when locked there is no 10 apparentdifierence from the conventional shoe.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Beeson Apr. 1, Swetzotf Nov. 18, Gutierrez Jan.14, Veling Oct. 7, Filippelli Mar. 19, Brunmark Mar. 26, Mancuso Apr. 6,Sorofman Dec. 20,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 30,

